Stereotype plate casting and finishing machine



Se t. 11, 1962 P. 1.. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933 I STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Wu W" 5 @1 N I @E j mumw {WW I f i I ATTORNE p 1, 1962 P. L. TOLLISON ETAL 3,05 ,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCIJRS m O R R A S Lm Y L R i O N JM E Se t. 11, 1962 P. 1.. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 27, 1959 ll r.r ll.lllllllll.

INVENTORS. .BY PAUL L. TOLLISON C A L. RICARDS i2 22 dTTORN p 1962 P. L. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

S CARD E 1;

PAUL TOLLlSON HA RI p 1962 P. L. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. BY PAUL L. TOLLISON CHARLES L. R'ICAR' S Q LMJ 5*, 1'7

' dTTOR Y5 Sept. 11, 1962 P. L. TOLLISON ETAL 3,

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS.

PAUL L. TOLLlSON ATTORNEYS P 1962 P. 1.. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 55 M N M Y 00 E Tm /M md EL T WEN d I 2 LR UA AH P Se t. 11, 1962 P. L.TOLL1$ON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREQTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS. PAUL L.TOLL|SON BY CHARLES L.RICARDS I kll M ATTORNEYS Se t. 11, 1962 P. 1.. TOLLISON ETAL 3,052,933

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1959 lo Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG.13 f

INVENTORS.

PAUL L. TOLLISON BY CHARLES L. ICA 0s iw- ,M W M ATTOR S STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed March 27; 1959 Sept. 11, 1962 P. L. TOLLISON ETAL l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS.

BY PAUL L. TOLLISON CHA LES R CARD fiw :2? will 5 17V ATT RNEYS United States Patent Otlice 3,052,933 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 3,052,933 STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING AND FINISHING MACHINE Paul L. Tollison, North Plainfieid, and Charles L. Ricards,

South Plainfield, N.J., assignors to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation, Plainfield, N.J., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 802,481 6 Claims. (Cl. 22-4,)

This invention relates generally to a stereotype plate casting and finishing machine and, more particularly, to a machine having improved features for positioning a stereotype matrix or mat into a casting box, improved means for moving the plate casting from the casting station to a finishing station and improved means for cooling the plate casting as it leaves the finishing station.

Heretofore some stereotype plates have been cast in plate-making machines which had a horizontally reciprocally moving casting box and a core that was adapted to rotate 90 so that the cast plate could be easily removed therefrom. The casting box contained a mat-stripping means whereby the mat was automatically stripped from the core when the casting box was moved in a horizontal direction away from the core to a strip position. Such a machine is disclosed in our Patent No. 2,53 6,670, issued January 2, 1951, to inventors P. L. Tollison and Charles L. Ricards for an invention in a Stereotype Platemaking Machine. In order to position the mat accurately in the casting box shown in that patent, it is necessary in using the device that a funnel or spout through which molten metal is poured into the mold cavity between the casting box and the core when the casting box is in casting position be movable if the operator is to have access to the cavity. Even then it is difiicult for an operator inserting the mat to see that it is inserted accurately because of the small space between the casting box and the core even when the casting box is in the mat-stripping position because of the vertical position of the box. A further disadvantage of utilizing a movable spout is that joints have to be utilized which sometimes leak and also it is possible that the operator will not always position the spout correctly over the cavity so that molten metal passing therethrough will sometimes splash onto the top of the core or casting box.

Another disadvantage which has existed in prior stereotype plate casting machines is that no means were provided other than manual or gravity means for moving the hot plate from the core when the core was in the retracted position into the finishing head. An operator was forced to wear heavy asbestos gloves when grabbing the plate to move it off the core and often would not push the plate completely into the finishing head where it would be accurately trimmed. It is necessary in the manufacture of stereotype plate castings that they be accurately trimmed in order that they may fit correctly and accurately on to the rolls of a printing press.

Still another difliculty with previous stereotype machines is that after the hot castings emerged from the finishing head, they were sprayed with water and air which many times would splash on to other parts of the plate making machine.

Broadly, we propose to overcome the aforementioned difiiculties inherent with prior stereotype plate making machines by providing means for tilting the casting box when it is in its m-at stripping position so that the operator may easily and accurately insert a mat therein. By providing for tilting of the casting box, a fixed spout may be utilized through which molten metal may be poured into the mold cavity between the casting box and the core when the casting box is in the casting position, so

doing away with chances of leaks and mistaken positioning of the spout.

We further propose to include in our improved machine an automatic functioning pusher arm which will move the casting plate from the core when the core is in its retracted position into accurate engagement in the finishing head with the finishing knives. We further propose to provide for automatic means for moving the plate from the finishing head after the plate has been trimmed on to an inspection table whereby the operator may inspect the plate for imperfections.

We still further propose to provide for a novel cooling station whereby as the plate is moved on to the cooling station from the inspection station, shields will automatically move into engagement with the interior of the plate to prevent splashing of water which is used for cooling the plate.

Broadly, the means for tilting the casting box comprises two tracks which are fixed on the frame of the casting machine on either side of the casting box, a pair of rollers journaled on the cast-ing box for supporting it and which ride upon the tracks, a lever means connected at one end to the casting box for moving said box on its rollers along the tracks, cams attached to the frame of the machine, cam followers attached to the casting box, shaft means connected to the other end of the lever means, a first actuator for rotating the shaft to cause the box and rollers to move along the track away from the core to the mat stripping position, and a second actuator to further cause the shaft to rotate to force the cam follower to follow the cam and tilt the box.

We further propose to include in our novel plate mak ing machine a pusher arm which rides on a track extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine and which is mounted on the frame of the machine. Means are provided for rotating the pusher arm in the vertical plane so that it will engage an end of the plate casting when the core is in its fully retracted position and the plate has been lifted from the core by lifters attached to the core. Transfer means are provided for moving the pusher arm a predetermined distance along the track so that the arm will push the plate into the finishing head where the plate is trimrned and the recesses in the plate for the reception of the press roll lock-up pins are cut. Further means are provided for automatically returning the pusher arm to the position before it engages the plate so that it is again ready to push a plate into the finishing head when the core retracts.

Powered roller means are provided in the finishing head whereby after the plate has been trimmed the rollers will automatically be actuated to bring the plate onto an inspection station. From there the plate may be pushed on to other powered rollers which autOmatically position the plate in the cooling station. When the plate contacts a limit switch in the cooling station, rotation of the roller means is stopped and semi-circular shields are caused to rotate and to come into close contact with the ends of the casting. Water means are automatic-ally turned on for cooling the plate and after a predetermined time interval the water means are shut oft and a blast of air is automatically turned on to dry the plate. After this sequence of operations, the shields are automatically retracted, the rollers upon which the plate rests are automatically activated so moving the casting on to a storage station or conveyor belt from whence it may be moved to the press.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a side view of our stereotype plate making machine illustrating generally the casting station, finishing station and cooling station;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along the center line of of FIG. 1 illustrating the casting station with the casting box and core in their casting position; I FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the machine s own in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the casting machine taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 illustrating movement of the casting box Where the casting box is shown in the mat stripping position and in which the core and means for moving the core have been left out for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the casting box in its fully tilted position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5 also illustrating the position of the core moving elements;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan cross section view illustrating the mat stripping and locking mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the position of the mat when the casting box is in casting position with respect to the core;

, 'FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 3 illustrating the means for moving the core from its casting to its retracted position taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the center line of FIG. 1, illustrating the core in its fully retracted position;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the back side of the machine as shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the transfer means for moving the pusher arm longitudinally of the machine;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of FIG. 11 taken along lines 12-12 illustrating the different positions of the Ipusher arm;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the cooling station taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 14 is a partial cross sectional view of the cooling station taken along lines 14'14 of FIG. 13.

Referring in greater detail to FIGURE 1, numeral 1 denotes generally the casting unit, 2 the finishing head, and 3 the cooling station. The casting unit includes a funnel 4 which is connected by a conduit 5 to a furnace 6 in which lead may be melted. The outlet 7 of funnel 4 is fixedly positioned above the space or cavity between the casting box 8, and the core 9 as is more clearly shown in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 1 the core 9' is shown in the fully retracted position as will be explained more clearly hereafter.

The finishing head 2 has therein means for automatically clamping the cast plate in position for finishing, means for automatically severing the tail from the plate, means for automatically shaving the concave surface of the plate while .at the same time cutting recesses in the plate for the reception of lock-up fingers on a printing roll, and means for automatically releasing the cast p ate for delivery to the cooling unit 3. None of the details of. the finishing unit are illustrated in the drawing since they are conventional and are not part of the invention.

The cooling station 3 is placed on the end of the machine shown in FIGURE 1 and serves to receive the cast finished plate from the finishing head where it is cooled. The details of the cooling unit 3 are described hereafter. (FIGURE 2 illustrates in greater detail the working of the casting unit in which the casting box 8 is shown in casting position with the core 9. Casting box 8 has therein a cavity 20'which has an inlet conduit 21 and an outlet conduit 22 through which cooling water may be circulated. The box 8 further has a vacuum section 23 connected by a conduit 24 to a source of vacuum by which the section 23 may exert a vacuum to pull or firmly hold a mat into position when it is inserted into the casting box. Orifices, not shown, connect the vacuum section to the mold cavity.

The core 9 likewise has a water cooling cavity 70 in which there are inlet pipes or conduits 71 and 72 to which flexible hose (not shown) may be connected so that cooling water may be circulated thereby. The space 60 between the box 8 and core 9 serves as a cavity in which the mat, not shown, is positioned and where molten metal is poured through funnel 4 through outlet 7.

A semi-circular ring 61, as seen in FIG. 2, extends around the bottom of the cavity 60 and serves as a support for the molten metal in the bottom of the cavity. This ring has a bevelled surface 62, so that a bevelled edge can be subsequently formed on the finished plate for use in clamping it on a printing press. The ring 61 is fastened to brackets 63 and 63' which, in turn, a e rotatably connected at joints 64 and 64 to arms 65 and 65, as shown in FIG. 3. The ring 61 and arms 65 and 65 are urged upwards by means of spring 66 and, as the core is being tilted as will be more fully explained hereafter, serves as a guide for the core. A od 67 having an adjustable nut 68 serves as a stop and prevents upward movement of the arms beyond a predetermined limit. Lugs 69 and 69' carried on the ring 61 a'but adjustable screws and 90' mounted on the frame of the machine and provide an adjustable stop for the ring 61, the height of which may 'be suitably adjusted thereby.

The weight of the casting box 8 is carried by rollers 25 and 25' which run along tracks 26 and 26 in turn mounted on the bed of the plate-casting machine as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Connected to the frame of the machine are cam plates 27 and 27 which, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, have a cam surface 28. A cam follower comprising a roller 29 is adapted to follow the cam surface and is journaled onto a cam arm 30' by means of shaft 31'. Cam arm 30' is rigidly connected to the shaft 32 about which roller 25 rotates and which is also rigidly connected to the box 8.

Journaled to the shafts 32 and 32' are arms 33 and 33' which, in turn, are rotatably connected at their far ends to one end of links 34 and 34, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Links 34 and 34' in turn, are integral at their other ends with solid shaft 36 which has a hollow shaft 37 rotatable about it. Arm 38 is integral with shaft 36 and is rotatably connected to piston shaft 39 of hydraulic actuator 40.

The cylinder portion 41 of hydraulic actuator 40 is connected at pivot 42 to an arm 43 which, in turn, is pivoted to rotate about shaft 44. The end of arm 43 is pivotally connected to the piston arm 45 of a hydraulic piston (not shown) which is slidable in hydraulic actuator 46, pivoted to the machine bed.

It may be seen by reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 that the movement of the box 8 to and from the casting position with the core as shown in FIG. 2, the mat stripping position as shown in FIG. 4, and tilt position as shown in FIG. 5, may be efiectuated by control of the actuators 40 and 46. As the actuator '46 receives a charge of hydraulic pressure to cause the piston arm 45 to advance into the actuator or shorten, the arm 43 will be rotated about pivot 44 in a clockwise direction. This in turn, will force the piston arm 39 upwards to rotate shaft 36 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 5, so causing lever arms 33 and 33' to move to the right. Casting box 8 will likewise be caused to move to the right to the mat stripping position as shown in FIGURE 4 where the cam follower 29 is adjacent the drop-off point 47' of the cam plate 27". The box may be returned to the casting position as shown in FIGURE 2 merely be reversing the charge of hydraulic pressure to the actuator 46. When the casting machine is to be used in casting a number of plates from the same mat, the movement of the casting box is as set out above.

When, however, it is decided to change the mat in the casting box, the valve 48 mounted on the box is turned to allow a charge of hydraulic pressure to be admitted to the actuator 40 to extend the piston arm 39. This will cause shaft 36 to rotate further in the clockwise direction from that shown in FIGURE 4 to move arm 33 even further to the right as shovm in FIGURE 5, allowing cam follower 2? to move in an upward direction past the dropoif 47'. Since the arm 30 is rigidly connected with respect to box 8, the box 8 will tilt about shaft 32' thus allowing easy access by the operator for insertion and removal of a mat.

Cross-sectional details of the mat-stripping means for one side of the mat and the position of the mat in the casting and stripping positions are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The casting box 8 has running along the vertical edge thereof a shaft 50 which has mounted thereon an arm 51'. The arm 51' in addition, has a mat clip '52 held to the arm by means of studs 53 which ride in diagonally cut slots in the clip. As the clip is moved up or down by means of levers mounted on the top of the box and which for clarity of the drawings, have not been shown, the clip will be caused to also move in and out of the arm to tightly clamp the mat M between the clip and bolster packing strip 54' attached to arm 51'. Arm 5-1 is urged outwardly by a spring (not shown) to the open or strip position, as shown in FIG. 7. As the box 8 is moved towards the core 9, the arm 51' is forced inwardly to firmly position the mat in correct casting position and as the box moves away from the core, the arm will move out to strip the edge position of the mat from the plate casting. This means for securing the mat to the casting box is clearly shown in our prior-mentioned patent and is not considered a part of this invention. It is illustrated, however, to clearly show the mat in the casting and stripping positions with respect to core 9 and the plate P.

The movement of the core from its casting position to its fully retracted position is shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, and the means for retracting the core are illustrated in FIG. 9. Referring first to FIG. 2, the core 9 is shown in the upright position resting upon the brackets 63 and 63' which, in turn, are pivoted onto guide arms 65 and 65'. The weight of the core itself is carried by rollers 80 and 80 which are journaled onto the core and which ride on the tracks 26 and 26'. The top portion of the core is connected by a link 81 to an arm 82 which is fixed to the hollow shaft 37 as shown in FIG. 6. Shaft 37, in turn, has thereon an arm 83 which is pivoted to a swinging arm 84 which, as shown in FIG. 10, is a piston arm of hydraulic actuator 85. The cylinder of actuator 85, in turn, is pivotally fixed to one end of the machine bed, as shown at 86, so that as hydraulic pressure is forced in and out of actuator 85 through conduits, not shown, the arm 84 may be shortened or lengthened to rotate the hollow shaft 37 about the solid shaft 36. As is best seen in FIG. 10, the piston arm 84 is in its retracted position when the core is likewise in its fully retractable position. It is apparent that as the piston arm 84 extends from the actuator 85 under the influence of hydraulic pressure, it will cause the hollow shaft 37 to rotate in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 10, to force the arm 82 and link 81 upward to rotate the core about shaft 87 on which the roller 80 is journaled.

The plate P is lifted off the core 9 when the core is in the fully retracted position, as shown in FIG. 10, by means of a lifter plate 88, only one of which is shown, which extends along the side of the core. The lifter plate 88 engages the underside of the core, and, as the core approaches its fully retracted position, a portion 89 of the plate will contact a lift bar 90 which is fixed to the machine so that as the core retracts further, the lifter is forced up to force the plate off of the core.

When the plate has been lifted ofi the core by the lifter plates, a pusher arm 100, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, is rotated by an actuator 101 about shaft 102 so that a contact plate 103 carried on the end of the pusher arm will extend down and behind the plate casting as shown in FIG. 12. The pusher arm, shaft 162 and the actuator 101 are all carried on a transfer bracket 104 which is carried by a bar 105 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The bracket 104 is prevented from turning about the rod by means of a square bar 106 which extends parallel to and below the bar 105. The bracket 104 has a plate portion 107 which extends behind the bar 106, as shown in FIG. 12, to prevent the bracket from rotating in a counterclockwise direction about bar 105.

The pusher arm is further provided with two limit switches 110; however, only one is shown in FIG. 12. The limit switches are operated by means of cams 11d and 112 mounted on pusher arm 100 and serve to control the application of pressure fluid to actuator 101.

The pusher arm assembly, comprising the pusher arm 100, bracket 104, and the actuator 191, is moved longitudinally of the machine by means of a double acting transfer actuator 120. A link chain 121 connects at one end with the piston rod 122 of the actuator and at the other end with piston rod extension 123 while meshing with cogs 124 and 125. Application of pressure to either side of the piston, not shown, in the transfer cylinder will cause the piston to move longitudinally and to rotate shaft 126 on which cog is mounted. Shaft 126, in turn, will drive cog 127 and chain 128 which extends over cog 29 and which is connected at point 130 to bracket 104 to cause the pusher arm assembly to move away or toward the finishing head 2. As the pusher arm approaches the finishing head, and is clear of the core 9, the bracket 164 will contact a limit switch which will activate a solenoid to allow pressure to be applied to the actuator 85 to return the core to the vertical casting position. A mechanical stop and limit switch 141 limits movement of the pusher arm toward the finishing head and assures accurate positioning of the plate, not shown, with reference to the rotary finishing knife which is driven by electric motor 292 and belts 203. Movement of the switch 141 actuates a solenoid, not shown, which in turn operates a valve, also not shown, to reverse application of fluid pressure in transfer actuator 120 and start the return of the pusher arm assembly to the start position, as shown in FIG. 11. As the pusher arm clears the shaving arch 251 of the finishing head, limit switch 142 is actuated to cause the pusher arm to retract to the up position, as shown in FIG. 12. The transfer actuator will continue to pull the pusher arm assembly away from the finishing head until it contacts a limit switch 143 which stops movement of the transfer actuator and the pusher arm assembly is again in position for retraction of the core.

After the plate casing has been cut and finished to the desired dimensions, powered rollers inside the finishing head upon which the plate rests are actuated automatically to remove the plate from the shaving or finishing head to an inspection station as indicated by 90' in FIG. 1. The rollers on which the plate rests on the inspection table are not powered so that there is sufiicient time to give the plate proper inspection. From the inspection station the plate is manually pushed toward power driven rollers 3% as shown in FIG. 14, where the plate is carried into the cooling station 3. As the plate approaches the rollers 330, it will depress a limit switch 346, which starts a motor driving the rollers. The power driven rollers will continue to move the plate into the cooling station until the plate clears the switch 340 when the motor driving the rollers will stop. The plate will coast until it contacts a solenoid operated plate stop 301. As the plate is positioned against the stop 301, it will contact a limit switch 341 which when depressed completes a starting circuit.

The operator may then close the starting circuit by pressing a start button in order to operate a solenoid operated valve which will admit a charge of pressure fiuid to actuator 362 to cause the piston rod 303 to move inwardly of the actuator as shown in FIG. 13. This, in turn, will cause arm 304 to rotate about shaft 305 in a clockwise direction. Link 306 which is connected to arm 304 will move to the right as shown in FIG. 13, to cause ratchet 307 to rotate about shaft 368. Ratchet 307, in turn, meshes with a gear 309 which is attached to shaft 310. Also mounted on shaft 310 are two semi-circular plates 3 11 and 312 which have brushes 313 on their ends made of a water-repellant material which may firmly engage the ends of the plate P. It is thus seen by referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 that the plates and brush will act as an effective shield to completely close off the ends of the plate P.

Spaced above rollers 300 and situated so that they will be inside the plate when the plate is in the position shown in FIG. 13 are water pipes 314 having jets through which water may be forced to spray and cool plate P when the shields 311 and 312 are in the position shown in FIG. 13. After the plate has been sprayed with cooling Water, air is blown through pipe 315 and emerges from jets thereon to dry the plate P. The actuator 3ti2 is then actuated to rotate the shields 180 to bring them out of contact with the plate P. Stop 301 is automatically retracted and the motor driving the rollers 3th is actuated to move the plate off of the cooling station onto a conveyor belt where the plate is moved on to a storage bin or directly to the press. The electrical circuitry, timers controlling the air and water blasts, solenoids, valves and piping connecting the actuators are not illustrated as they are conventional and their details are not part of the invention.

The sequence of operation of the plate casting portion and transfer portions of the machine is as follows: Initially, the core is in the retracted or horizontal position as shown in FIG. 10, while the casting box is in the tilt position, as shown in FIG. 5. A mat is first inserted in the casting box between the clip 52' and the arm 51 and the clip '52 is then forced down to lock the mat to the arm as shown in FIG. 7. A valve, not shown, is opened to allow fluid pressure to be introduced into actuator 40 so as to cause piston rod 39 to shorten or recede into the actuator. This will cause the casting box to move to the vertical stripping position, as shown in FIG. 4. Valve 48 is then turned to cut off actuator 49 from the pressure source and to efiectively lock the piston in the actuator in the position shown in FIG. 4. A counter,

not shown, is then set so that the machine will produce a predetermined number of plates from one mat.

A start button is actuated which opens a valve, both not shown, which in turn, admits pressure fluid to actuator 85 to move the core up from the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 10. When the core reaches its vertical position as shown in FIG. 2, it will actuate a core limit switch which will operate a solenoid valve, both not shown, to allow pressure fluid to be admitted to actuator 46 so that the casting box will move from the strip position, as shown in FIG. 4, to the casting position, as shown in FIG. 2. When the casting box is in casting position, a casting box limit switch will be actuated which will start a vacuum pump which withdraws air from the chamber 23 in the casting box. As a predetermined value of vacuum is obtained, a pressure switch, not shown, will operate to start a molten metal pump, not shown, in order to pump molten metal from the furnace through the funnel 4 into the cavity 60. At the same time that the vacuum pressure switch is actuated, a pump timer is actuated which, after a predetermined time, stops the molten metal pump. This, in turn, actuates a vacuum timer which, after a period of time, releases the vacuum in the casting box and actuates a solenoid valve to allow pressure fluid to be emitted to actuator 46 so as to cause piston rod 45 to recede into the actuator 46 and thusmove the casting box to the strip position as shown in FIG. 4.

When the casting box reaches the strip position, a cam 98 on the shaft 36 will actuate a core moving limit switch which causes pressure fluid to be emitted to actuator 85 to allow piston rod 84 to enter into the actuator and so lower the core to the horizontal position. When .the core 8 reaches the fully retracted or horizontal position, it actuates a pusher arm limit switch which causes the pusher arm to move in between the core and the casting box. When the pusher arm is in the full down position, it will actuate a transfer limit switch to cause pressure to headmitted to the transfer cylinder which will move the pusher arm assembly so as to push the casting plate into the shaving arch. As the pusher arm assembly approaches the shaving arch, it will actuate limit switch 140 which will cause the core to return to the vertical position. Further movement of the pusher arm assembly will actuate limit switch 141 which will cause the transfer cylinder to reverse motion. As the pusher arm assembly leaves the shaving arch, it will actuate limit switch142 which will cause the pusher arm to retract while at the same time starting up the shaver motor which drives the knives shaving the plate. As the pusher arm reaches its starting position as shown in FIG. 11, it will actuate the limit switch 143 which stops movement of the transfer cylinder. The sequence of operation of the cooling station is as stated earlier, and is convenient when a plate is manually pulled from the inspection station onto the rollers 300.

The above cycle of operation will repeat until the desired number of plates as determined by a counter, have been made at which time the machine will stop with the casting box in the mat stripping position, as shown in FIG. 4. The casting box may then be tilted by turning valve 48 so as to allow pressure fluid to be admitted to actuator 49 and the old mat replaced with a new one.

Since the sequence of the operation of the plate-casting machine is not considered part of the invention and since the limit switches, timers and circuitry connecting the same and piping connecting the actuators are conventional, no drawings illustrating these parts have been included.

While the above sequence, with the exception of the tilting of the casting box, is fully automatic, it is obvious that portions may be made manual if for any reason it is desired to stop the operation of the machine at a particular position. Also, it is obvious that interlocks may be provided so as to prevent inadvertent operation of any one part of the machine such as the pump, pumping molten metal through the funnel when the casting box or core are not in casting position.

Having dscribed our invention, what we claim is:

1. A stereotype plate casting machine having a casting unit comprising a movable casting box carrying a mat and a casting core rotatable through 90 about a horizontal axis, said core and box cooperating to form a vertically extending mold cavity, and a mat stripping means carried by said box for stripping said mat from said core; the improvement which comprises including two adjacent tracks mounted on the frame of the machine and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said machine with said core and box positioned between said tracks, box rollers rotatably journaled on said box and riding on said tracks for supporting said box, at least one cam plate mounted on the frame of said machine having a cam surface, a cam follower fixed at one end to said box for each said cam surface, box moving means for moving said box and rollers horizontally along said tracks to and from a casting position with respect to a mat stripping position and for moving said cam follower to a predetermined point along said cam surface, and selectively operable tilt actuator means for moving said cam follower further along said cam surface and to move said box beyond said mat stripping position away from said casting position to tilt said box about the axis of said rollers after said box has been reciprocated between said casting position and stripping position the desired number of times.

2. A stereotype plate casting machine according to claim 1, wherein said cam surface has a first portion extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said machine and a second portion extending at a predetermined inclination to the vertical axis of said machine.

3. A stereotype plate casting machine according to claim 1 and having in addition a finishing head for trimming a cast plate, means for rotating said core 90 to the horizontal position from the vertical casting position, means for lifting said cast plate above said core when in the horizontal position and pusher means for pushing said cast plate from a position over said core into said finishing station; said pusher means comprising a pusher arm rotatable about a pusher arm axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, a pusher arm actuator for rotating said pusher arm about said pusher arm axis after said core is rotated to its horizontal position and transfer means for moving said pusher arm in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine to and away from said finishing head.

4. A stereotype plate casting machine according to claim 2 wherein said tilt actuator means comprises two arms each of said arm being pivotally connected at one end to said box and at the other of its ends to an arm integral with a rotatable shaft, and a tilt pressure fluid actuator means for rotating said shaft.

5. A stereotype plate casting machine having a casting unit comprising a core rotatable 90 from the vertical position and a movable casting box, a finishing head for trimming a cast plate, pusher arm means for transferring said cast plate to said finishing head from said core when in a horizontal position, an inspection station for the reception of a finished plate from said finishing head and a cooling station for cooling a finished head as it leaves said inspection station, the improvement which comprises power driven roller means for moving said finished plate from said inspection station to said cooling station, two semi-circular shields having sealing brushes on their outer periphery in said cooling station rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the machine and positioned so as to engage the ends of a finished plate from below when rotated about said longitudinal axis, shield actuator means for rotating said shields about said longitudinal axis, water cooling means positioned between said shield and air blast means situated between said shields.

6. A stereotype plate casting machine according to claim 5 wherein the cooling head has in addition a first automatic roller actuation means activated by said plate for automatically acuating said power driven rollers as said plate leaves said inspection station to advance said plate into said cooling station, a power cut-oil means activated by said plate for cutting oif power to said power driven rollers when said plate is substantially in said cooling station, a retractable stop for stopping advancement of said plate in said cooling station, retractable means for retracting said stop, and automatic means for activating said shield actuator means when said plate contacts said stop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,325 Hopkins Dec. 3, 1918 1,785,164 Wood Dec. 16, 1930 2,3 64,032 Wood Nov. 28, 1944 2,536,670 Tollison et a1. Jan. 2, 1951 2,944,306 Tollison July 12, 1960 

